Welcome to the Hospitality Junior Board…

A community for young people in hospitality to grow, build confidence, and find their place in the industry.

We’re a growing community – for you and the people who show up for you. The ones who cheer you on, lift you up, and help you find your way.

Together, we’re here to support you, encourage you, and help you succeed in whatever success means to you.

We are building a movement – one rooted in friendship and kindness, fuelled by peer-to-peer discussion, and driven by a shared belief in hospitality as a force for good.

Our Mission

Our mission is to empower young people, strengthen the hospitality community, and promote a supportive, inclusive sector.

Above all, we exist to help young people feel seen, valued, and excited about what their future in hospitality could be – whatever that future looks like for them.

We have 5 Objectives

Supporting young people through running cohorts, initiatives and putting on events

Building skills that matter

Creating a community where young people feel seen, valued and encouraged

Championing the sector and raise the profile of hospitality careers

Developing future leaders through peer learning and exposure to industry voice

Meet the Current Cohort

Chloe Heselton

Assistant Head of Food & Beverage

The Milner York Hotel

I am currently employed at the Milner York Hotel as the Assistant Head of Food & Beverage. Over the past six years, I have built my career within the hospitality industry, where I have developed a deep appreciation for its fast-paced nature and the variety it offers. My time in the sector has provided me with the opportunity to meet incredible people and tackle new challenges that continually push me to grow both personally and professionally.
I am eager to join the Hospitality Junior Board as I am passionate about collaborating with other young professionals from the York area. I look forward to learning from their experiences, sharing insights from my own career, and working together to make a meaningful contribution to our local community.

Charlotte Hansell

Front Desk Manager

Hampton by Hilton, York

From welcoming guests at the front desk to creating seamless first impressions, hospitality has become more than just a job for me, it’s a genuine passion. My love for hospitality began during my time working in tourism, where I discovered how meaningful it is to create positive, lasting impressions on people from all walks of life. Currently, I work as the Front Desk Manager for Avantis Hotels at the Hampton by Hilton York Piccadilly, where I am proud to be part of a team that prioritises excellent service and memorable guest experiences.
I am excited to be joining the junior hospitality board as a way to build my confidence, meet others who share my enthusiasm for the industry and continue growing both personally and professionally. I look forward to contributing to the board and learning from the diverse perspectives of fellow members.

Emily Wilson

Supervisor

The Motorist

Hello, I’m Emily. I have been passionate about hospitality ever since I started my first ever bar job a few years ago and would love to build a career within the industry and maybe even own my own business one day. I think the Hospitality Junior Board will allow me to grow my management skills as-well as personal growth to allow me to teach others along the way. I have a lot to learn being twenty, so I’m excited for this new chapter.

Bhwana Rai

F&B Assistant

Indigo Hotel, York

My name is Bhawana Rai and I have been working in hospitality for about 10 years now. I have learnt so many new skills, such as communicating with customers and how important it is to make sure you communicate with each and every one of them as everyone is very different.

I would love to be a part of the junior board as there are many new skills, new knowledge about this sector I haven’t come across before, which will help me a lot in the future to continue my love and passion for hospitality.

Beth Prideaux

Revenue Manager

Rudding Park

“I’d seen the Hospitality Junior Board a few times on LinkedIn and it looked really interesting. I’ve always believed that you never know what opportunities might come your way unless you’re willing to give things a try – a mindset that also led me to the role I’m in today. Fast forward a couple of weeks, and after a great conversation with Philip, I am now preparing to join the 4th cohort alongside other like-minded young professionals. I’m really looking forward to meeting new people and continuing to build confidence in myself over the next few months as part of the programme.”

Freya Robinson

Spa Front Office Manager

Rudding Park

I joined the hospitality industry when I was 16 years old. I came straight from high school and started an apprenticeship in beauty therapy, so I was learning all things therapy as well as life skills at Rudding Park Spa.
I was keen to learn everything and anything there was to know about the spa and hospitality industry and quickly fell in love with what we were trying to achieve as a business.
I have grown up in Rudding Park Spa and am now the Spa Front Office Manager. Now that I have been given the opportunity to join the Hospitality Junior Board, I have wanted to do this a while to meet people in the same boat and learn from their experiences whilst telling my own.

Haydon Bayliss

Assistant Bar Manager

Saltmoore

Hi, I’m Haydon. I’m the Assistant Bar Manager at Saltmoore. In the absence of a Bar Manager, I’m currently managing the bars, focusing on streamlining service and improving staff training. I’ve worked in hospitality since I was 13 starting as a glass collector in a rugby club and working my way up.
Outside of work I enjoy going to the gym and spending time with my friends usually at a coffee shop.
What I enjoy most about hospitality is the opportunity to meet so many interesting people from all over the world.

Freddie Durance

Head Waiter

Shaun Rankin, Grantley Hall

I’ve always loved trying new things and getting to know new people. I hope to get many new skills and techniques from this course that will not only help me in my career but also my personal life too!

Freddie Marshall

Conciereg

The Grand, York

I’m a 19-year-old concierge just starting out in hospitality. I love meeting new people and making sure guests have a great experience. Before working at The Grand, I had experience in retail and kitchen work from the age of 13, and I’d never really considered hospitality as a career.
Having now been at The Grand for over two years, I’ve realised that this job allows me to make people’s day—every day—which I absolutely love. It’s what makes me enjoy coming into work and why I’m excited to build a career in this industry.
Outside of work, I enjoy exercising, travelling, and socialising. I’m always keen to learn new things and try out different experiences.

Our Stories

Hear our Hospitality Junior Board members stories. Just click on their photo below to get started.

What Our Members Say…

Joining the Hospitality Junior Board has pushed me to do things I have never done for example attending a board meeting was exciting but completely unknown! It has helped me to connect and learn from people in a similar position. Having a mentor has also been massively beneficial for myself, they helped me understand my management techniques, and leadership skills, whilst pushing me to do more. It’s been fantastic to be a part of something so different and inspiring!

Olly Longbottom, Assistant Restaurant Manager, The Star Inn, Harome

Being part of the York & North Yorkshire Hospitality Junior Board has been an incredibly enriching experience, providing me with invaluable networking opportunities and allowing me to connect with professionals across the hospitality industry. Through the board, I've gained a deeper understanding of how various hospitality businesses operate, highlighting the remarkable diversity within our industry. This role has also challenged me to step out of my comfort zone, particularly through interviewing industry leaders for our podcast 'Let Me Call My Manager'. These experiences have collectively broadened my perspective and enhanced my professional growth

Yasmine Hammadache, Operations Manager, Indigo Hotel York

Being a part of the Hospitality Junior Board these past 6 months has been so beneficial to  my career. I have built a new network of people, learned from fellow board members, received fantastic mentor sessions, grown my confidence and developed  my resilience.

Sophie Baker, HR Officer,  Rudding Park

"Thank you also for yesterday, I had a fantastic day meeting back up with everybody at HJB and the session was brilliant. Weirdly enough I seem to be finding myself at work going through challenges the month leading up to the HJB monthly meeting and then finding we speak about an area which resonates with all these challenges in that month’s meeting helping me find clarity and new approaches to deal with these issues I’m facing. So a huge thank you for this…!"

Alex Mcleod, York Dungeons

"Truly a great Board to be part of! After only our first 3 months I have learnt so much as well as met some life long friends. So many opportunities presented to me and my confidence has grown rapidly…"

Georgia Thomas, Cluster Sales Manager, Thwaites

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